Toxicology Track

Weekly Newsletter of the MSU Center for Integrative Toxicology
Director: Norbert Kaminski/Editor: Lois Furry

March 24, 2008, Vol. 31, Number 12

Seminars this week / Trainee Enrichment and Professional Development / Postions

Seminars this week

Monday, March 26
The Plant Research Lab presents John Raven, University of Dundee, United Kingdom, to speak on "What has Genomics Told us about Oceanic Primary Productivity?" on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. in 101 Biochemistry.

Tuesday, March 25
The Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Department presents Beth Lazazzera, University of California-Los Angeles, to speak on “Cell-Cell Communication Peptides of Bacillus Subtillis” on Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 4:10 p.m. in 1415 Biomedical Physical Sciences.

Wednesday, March 26
The Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Program presents Hopi Hoekstra, Harvard University, to speak on “From Mice to Molecules: The Molecular Basis of Adaptive Change” on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. in 247 Plant Biology.

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition presents Dr. Xiu-Min Li, Director, Center for Chinese Herbal Therapy for Allergy and Asthma, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, to speak on “Food Allergy and Nutritional Therapy” on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 4 p.m. in 1135 S. Anthony Hall.

Thursday, March 27
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program presents Dr. Sue Biggins, University of Washington, to speak on “Regulation of Chromosome Segregation” on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in 101 Biochemistry.

The Neuroscience Program presents Dr. Wehai Ying, University of California-San Francisco, to speak on “NAD+/NADH: An Old Couple with Many New Powerful Functions” on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. in 1425 Biomedical Physical Sciences.

Friday, March 28
The College of Osteopathic Medicine presents Dr. Jiing-Dwan Lee, Professor of Immunology, The Scrpps Research Institute, to speak on "Unraveling Cancer Signaling Pathways" on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 9 a.m. in 1425 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building. Dr. Lee is a candidte for the MSU Patenge Endowed Professorship in Cancer Biology.

The Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation presents Kazuhisa Miyakawa, DVM, to speak on “The Cytoplasmic Appearance of Hepatocytes” on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 12 noon in 101 Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, 4125 Beaumont Road.

*Fulfills seminar requirements for the Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences Graduate Programs. Seminars that fulfill this requirement are archived at Seminar List.

Trainee Enrichment and Professional Development

"A Dissertation Support Group" is beginning on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. and on subsequent Tuesdays through April 22, 2008. This group is to support graduate students who are currently working on their doctoral dissertations. A process of sharing, goal-setting, and mutual accountability is used to assist ABDs in becoming Ph.D.s. A light lunch will be provided (pizza and beverages). REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. To register, please send an e-mail to gradwrsp@msu.edu with the following 5 pieces of information: your
name, department, e-mail address, workshop name, and date of workshop.

“Mastering the Interview” on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 from 5 to 7 p.m. in 6 Student Services. For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/current/jobseries.htm#interview.

“Identify the Obstacles To Your Thesis/Dissertation” on Saturday, March 29, 2008. For more information and to register, go to http://www.grad.msu.edu/stuwork.htm.

Women in Chemistry present a "Professional Development Workshop for Women in the Sciences" on Saturday, March 29, 2008. Registration is free. The event is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in 581 Chemistry Building. Visit www.chemistry.msu.edu/acswic.

“Translating Academic Success into Expanded Career Opportunities in Agencies, Industry, and Academia” on Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Big Ten B, Kellogg Center. For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/professional.htm.

"Navigating the Ph.D.: A Writing Workshop Series Part II; Topics and Proposals, Writing Strategies, Revision Strategies, The Defense, and Beyond" on Saturday, April 12, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 300 Bessey Hall. (Also offered on April 19, 2008). For more information, go to http://writing.msu.edu/ntp/.

Positions

The MSU-CIT Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences program has an open postdoctoral position. Research programs of the faculty employ modern technologies at the molecular, cellular and in vivo levels to explore mechanisms by which toxicants cause tissue injury. Areas of interest include cell signaling, molecular targets, immune/inflammatory responses, gene-environment interactions, susceptibility factors, control of gene expression, hemostasis, fibrogenesis and endocrine disruption in neuronal, respiratory, hepatic, cardiovascular, and immune tissues. Toxic agents of interest include drugs, air pollutants (particulate matter, ozone, mycotoxins) and water and food contaminants (plant and microbial toxins, metals, chlorinated hydrocarbons, etc.) and others. Research funding derives from the NIH and other federal sources (EPA, DOE) and includes a multi-investigator NIEHS/EPA Superfund Program Project grant. The toxicology faculty at MSU collaborate extensively with each other and with colleagues at other academic and industrial institutions; this provides numerous opportunities for postdoctoral fellows to engage in collaborative research that broadens their investigative and networking horizons. This postdoctoral position is supported by a training grant from the NIEHS and is accordingly limited to applicants who are US citizens or permanent residents. Interested applicants should visit the website of the Center for Integrative Toxicology and send a curriculum vitae that includes a short description of research interests, training and experience and three references to Amy Swagart, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Food Safety and Toxicology Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 or by email to swagart@msu.edu. Questions about the position should be addressed to Robert Roth, PhD, Director, EITS Training Program, at rothr@msu.edu or 517-353-9841.

An animal health pharmaceutical and biologicals company has an opportunity for a Senior Scientist. The ideal candidate for this position is a DVM with 5+ years in clinical practice with some research experience as well as some pathology in their background. This position will work across more than one entity and will contribute to the process of discovering and developing Animal Health product candidates. In this role, the individual will participate in protocol development and experimental design, test article administration, necropsy and data management. This position will require excellent oral and written communication and organization skills, resourcefulness, independent initiative and flexibility. To confidentially learn more about this opportunity, e-mail your resume in confidence to Principal Scientist - AH Drug Discovery, resumes@thevetrecruiter.com.

LimnoTech (LTI) has a current need for a Project Manager to focus on Contaminated Sediments working out of our Ann Arbor, MI or Washington, D.C. offices. Primary responsibilities of the Project Manager include: Manage clients (including industrial clients, engineering firms, attorneys, regulatory agencies) and staff while working on projects in the contaminated sediments area, including site characterization, remedial investigation, numerical modeling, and remedy evaluation and design. Assist in growing LimnoTech's services for management of contaminated sediment sites, building on and expanding our client base in the industrial, regulatory, and municipal arenas. Provide technical expertise in the arena of contaminated sediments through activities such as presenting at regional and national conferences, publishing papers, and serving on state, regional, or national committees. The ideal candidate possesses: at least five years of demonstrated project management experience and the ability to manage people, multiple tasks, and objectives; demonstrated knowledge of the contaminated sediments technical area, the body of sediment regulations, and the role of site characterization, monitoring and modeling in support of contaminated sediments remedy design and decision-making; demonstrated, successful consulting work experience in related project areas; willingness to travel as needed, mainly within the U.S.; and advanced degree(s) in relevant science or engineering program. LTI offers a competitive compensation package and a diverse and technically challenging work environment with a focus on individual job satisfaction. To apply, forward your resume and salary requirements to: sgartland@comcast.net. For more information, visit www.limno.com.

LimnoTech (LTI) has a current need for a Project Manager to focus on Wet Weather working out of our Ann Arbor, MI or Washington, D.C. offices. Primary responsibilities of the Project Manager include: Manage clients (including municipalities, A/E firms, attorneys, regulatory agencies) and staff while working on projects that require expertise in assessing the magnitude of wet weather discharges and impacts on watersheds and water quality, and developing solutions that meet Clean Water Act requirements (e.g., CSO Policy, TMDLs, NPDES permits). Assist in growing LimnoTech's services for management of wet weather pollutant sources, including combined sewer overflows (CSOs), sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), storm water and peak excess flows at municipal wastewater treatment plants. Provide technical expertise in the arena of wet weather pollutant sources and the Clean Water Act through activities such as presenting at regional and national conferences, publishing papers, and serving on state, regional, or national committees. The ideal candidate possesses: excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills; at least five years of demonstrated project management experience and ability to mange people, multiple tasks, and objectives; demonstrated knowledge of Clean Water Act programs, water quality standards, wet weather pollutant sources, and the role of monitoring and modeling of collection systems, watersheds, and water quality in decision-making; demonstrated, successful consulting work experience in related project areas; willingness to travel as needed, mainly within the U.S.; and advanced degree(s) in relevant science or engineering program. LTI offers a competitive compensation package and a diverse and technically challenging work environment with a focus on individual job satisfaction. To apply, forward your resume and salary requirements to: sgartland@comcast.net. For more information, visit www.limno.com.

A research project training opportunity for faculty and/or postgraduates is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) in Arlington, Virginia. This project is with the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program which is part of the Immediate Office of the NCEA Director. The IRIS Program develops health assessments for chemicals of concern to EPA and provides a nationally and internationally used data base of toxicity information that is utilized in risk assessments, site-specific environmental decisions, and rule-making. The selected individual will be trained in tasks related to IRIS health assessments. This might include the scientific analysis and development of multiple, concurrent health assessments for IRIS in accordance with a set of priorities and a schedule, response to peer review and EPA consensus review comments, interaction with other scientists to identify and resolve scientific issues in a timely manner, and completion of final IRIS summaries and support documents for the data base. The selected individual will also learn through interactions with other individuals and teams on cross-cutting scientific issues that arise in the IRIS Program. The Research Participation Program for NCEA is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. Please reference Project # EPA-NCEA 2008-02 when calling or writing for information. For additional information and application materials contact: Research Participation Program/NCEA-RTP, Attn: Betty Bowling, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, P.O. Box 117, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-0117, Phone: (865) 576-8503 FAX: (865) 241-5219 e-mail: betty.bowling@orau.org. An application can be found at www.orau.gov/orise/edu/EPA/app-gugrgpd.pdf